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Norris hoping for another high note in Music City

By Chris DePew
TideFans.com staff
January 16, 2016

Where to watch: Alabama (10-5, 1-2 SEC) at Vanderbilt (9-7, 1-3) – Today 5 p.m. Central, Memorial Gym, SEC Network

Who to watch: Riley Norris. Itā€™s a safe guess that Norris wonā€™t duplicate his barrage of eight 3-pointers that shocked South Carolina, but it wasnā€™t his scoring that earned him a midweek promotion to the starting lineup. The sophomore swing man got the start because Avery Johnson wanted more size and rebounding prowess against the Gamecocks and the odds favor a similar approach against Vanderbilt, which starts 6-foot-6 Jeff Roberson at small forward. Lost in the buzz over Norrisā€™ 27-point outburst were his team-high seven rebounds. And the scoring wasnā€™t a complete fluke; he has now scored in double figures in five out of the last six games.

What to watch for: Tradinā€™ paint in the paint. Commodores coach Kevin Stallings is so frustrated with center Damian Jonesā€™ chronic foul trouble (two DQs, 14 fouls in three league losses) that he dialed up the head of officiating for the SEC this week to vent over ā€œsome really, really poor calls latelyā€. And while fewer whistles would seem to be a natural advantage for a Vandy team that starts two 7-footers (Jones and Luke Kornet), the Crimson Tide could use some relief for its already-thin front line. Donta Hall has fouled out twice in the last three games while Jimmie Taylor and Michael Kessens have been prone to piling up whistles too this month.

Follow Chris DePew on Twitter @TideFansChris

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